CASTLE ROCK —David Chapa, board president of the Connexion Spot co-working space in Castle Rock and a self-described research junkie, offered statistics when he introduced the new business to the Town Council at a meeting last month.

“We have 49 percent of our residents that commute outside to the Denver metro area,” Chapa told the council, presenting information he collected. “Sixty-nine percent of those commuters want to work in Castle Rock and 27 percent of those would be willing to take a 10 percent pay cut if they could just work in Castle Rock. And I think the reason is there has not been a decent place.”

Co-working spaces have become popular across the Front Range, but the Connexion Spot is the first in Castle Rock.

“This idea has definitely been rolling around in our heads for four or five years,” said Trudi Eisenhour, a co-founder, data protection professional and Chapa’s wife. “The whole concept is bringing together people who are like-minded and want to work together and collaborate with each other and motivate each other.”

Eisenhour said she found a great match in Tim Dumler, the Connexion Spot’s other co-founder. Dumler owns the building at 165 Caprice Court where the new business is housed. He said he was considering opening a shared office space for employees of his medical billing business and other tenants when the Castle Rock Economic Development Council connected him with Eisenhour.

“I just really love the energy of the startup business, and this will allow me to be engaged in that process on an ongoing basis,” he said, adding he plans to bring in a venture capital element to support clients’ ideas.

Office space is at a premium in Castle Rock. The Move, a 50,000-square-foot building slated for Sixth and Jerry streets, broke ground about six weeks ago, according to officials, but in a town experiencing significant growth the need remains high.

Frank Gray, president and CEO of the Castle Rock Economic Development Council, said the town’s commercial vacancy rate is around 1 percent. A survey his organization did in 2005 or 2006 indicated 55 percent of all small businesses in Castle Rock were home-based.

“This hits our economic development objective as a town: to foster start-ups and bring entrepreneurs out of the woodwork,” he said of the Connexion Spot. “This was something we were missing from our arsenal. My guess is they are going to have to expand in the near future.”

The first 10 clients are set to move in July 1.

The co-working space has standard amenities, including Wi-Fi, printers, vending machines and private phone booths for important calls. There are adjustable-height desks, a lounge, a full kitchen with bar area and classroom space.

Eisenhour said the Connexion Spot will eventually host networking events and have a strong educational arm with support from the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and others.

“Eventually we want to host start-up weekends and hold pitch contests and really elevate Castle Rock into almost its own tech community,” she said.

There are three membership options ranging from $59 to $399 per month: an eight-hour drop-in plan, the part-time plan for those seeking space a few times per week and a full-time 24-hour access plan.

Kevin Capp is among the first members. After years of working from home or commuting, he is now launching his own customer success management consulting business.

“I was really excited to find it,” Capp said, adding he will be a part-time user at first. “I think it is just going to help with staying focused and not getting distracted. And I like being able to interact with other people who are running their own businesses. Just people to bounce ideas off of and interact with.”